The Hill has a good recap of the NAB's latest smear campaign against satellite radio that highlight's the FCC violations of past.
NAB spokesman Dennis Wharton called the infractions "brazen," arguing that they cast light on whether the merged company can be relied upon to adhere to any merger guidelines.
"If you're asking the government to give you a monopoly, you ought to be as pure as the driven snow in your practices and your communication with the government," Wharton said.
Of course, it's not like the NAB's darling technology, HD Radio, isn't without it's own problems. Not only do experts claim that HD Radio broadcasts interfere with adjacent stations (such as low powered mom and pop stations). But it looks like some wacky HD Radio stations are magically changing the channel for you.
It's not the radio's fault - it's the HD Radio signal. Nah, let's just ignore all that. Instead, let's kick and scream and call for FOIA requests.
"The NAB is abusing the FOIA process," an XM spokesman told The Hill. "The FCC already has all of the information that the NAB is seeking, and under well-settled precedent, these enforcement matters have no relevance to the FCC’s merger proceeding."
"The NAB will do and say anything to try to block the merger of XM and Sirius," said a Sirius spokeswoman. "As more and more consumers voice their support for the merger of XM and Sirius, the more fearful of increased competition the NAB becomes and the more desperate their actions in response."
'nuff said.
[The Hill]
HD/IBOC jams adjacent-channels, especially on AM; however, this nightmare may be over, as HD Radio will have to pay the new royalty fees:
"HD Radio - Wherefore Art Thou?"
"Just contemplate that thought for a second before moving on, because there's something around the corner that may cripple HD Radio far worse than lackluster consumer interest, or inability to get the product on store shelves. Second's up. If the push to make broadcast radio pay the same exorbitant fees for "performance royalties" that internet radio is facing wins, every side-channel that's in this rush to HD will be included in the invoice. How's that for an HD Radio killer?"
http://www.audiographics.com/agd/080207-1.htm
"House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Broadcast Performance Right - No Breaks for the Broadcasters"
"Congressman Howard Berman chairs the subcommittee, and he opened the hearing with a summary of the issues - indicating that he expected that the committee would move legislation this year to impose a performance royalty on broadcasters."
http://tinyurl.com/ysrnf8
HD Radio is a Farce
http://hdradiofarce.blogspot.com/